Saturday, March 28, 2020

With the COVID-19 Virus situation keeping many of us at home these days, maybe you have more time for some reading. We have mentioned it here before, but we'll do it again; if you are looking for a very good monthly publication covering Amateur Radio, Shortwave, AM/FM Radio, TV, Vintage Radio, etc. - THIS IS THE ONE!

TSM is usually around 100 pages and is packed with the latest on Amateur Radio, Shortwave, Scanning, Satellites, Radio/TV, Vintage radio, etc. The news and articles are always up to date and relevant. TSM is available only in PDF format and can be read on any device capable of opening a PDF file. I read TSM both on my tablet and PC. I also occasionally print out interesting articles that I might need for future reference in the shack.

The TSM publisher, Ken Reitz KS4ZR, is the former managing editor, features editor, columnist and feature writer for Monitoring Times. As well as a former feature writer and columnist for several other publications. TSM has some very experienced and talented writers that do a great job of covering many interesting topics each month! (learn more about the TSM staff here: http://www.thespectrummonitor.com/about-us.aspx )

Thursday, March 26, 2020

Most of us have become very aware of the rising noise floor on our radio spectrum. Many of us are experiencing various noise issues that are significantly cutting in to the ability to enjoy our hobby. It's not unusual in urban areas these days to have a noise level that rises to a range of S7-S9. The proliferation of mobile devices, consumer and industrial electronics with high speed microprocessors and switch mode power supplies, along with new lighting technologies are adding to the pollution of our radio waves. Issues with solar arrays and local power distribution also add to this rising level of noise.

So what can you do about it and where do you start?

We thought we would try to gather some links to some helpful RFI web sites as well as articles with techniques to chase down different types of RFI.

We have started with some info that we have recently found, but if you have any to other information or experiences to share, please leave a comment below or email us at Upstateham@gmail.com.

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Folks - As we work through the developing COVID-19 issue, we should all expect that most meetings and events will be canceled or postponed. We will try to list a few for CNY here.

As we all practice social distancing, take a few minutes to enjoy a QSO on HF or one of your local repeaters!

Message from the Bear Bait Club:

Hello,

Please add our April Technician class and VE session to the latest list of postponements.

I will reschedule for a later date.

Thx and 73

de Scott WA2DTN
Education Chairman, Bear Bait RC.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Message from LARC:

To all LARC Members
March 16,2020
Hello to all,
Due to the current health crisis gripping the country, all LARC meetings, test sessions,
Boot Camp and Board meetings have been canceled until at least the middle of May. As
that time grows closer we will access the situation and determine if it would be safe to
resume club activities. While I'm sure we will all miss our monthly meetings, our current
membership includes a greater than average number of at risk folks.
Please stay safe and keep washing those hands.
73, John
WB2DVE
Director
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Message from RAGS:

Note: Thursday April 9th RAGS meeting will be online using Zoom. Members should receive an email with instructions.

Greetings to all RAGS members,

I am writing this email to inform you, our membership, that it
is the decision of the RAGS Board of Officers to cancel the RAGS meeting for
April. The annual RAGS Auction that was
to be our program for that meeting will be postponed to a future date to be
decided.

With Dayton Hamvention being canceled, Drumlins Hamfest
“postponed”, and with the continuing guidance out of the County, State, and
Federal authorities we believe canceling is the prudent thing to do.

Your board of officers
will be monitoring the situation and will resume meetings when it is
deemed safe to do so by competent medical authority.

The steps being taken to control the transmission of the
COVID-19 virus are unprecedented in our time.
“Social Distancing” is a new term in our local vernacular. But HAM radio operators have practiced
“social distancing” from the start of our hobby! We may not be able to gather together for
eyeball qso's for awhile, but the airwaves are still there. I encourage you to take advantage of all of
the local nets we are blessed with here in Central New York. Go to www.upstateham.net
for all of the information on the times and frequencies for a net near you.

All of the local repeaters are operated and maintained for your
use and enjoyment. Take advantage of it
and get out there and have some fun! You
are sure to find someone out there ready to talk to you if you send out a CQ or
two.

The 93rd Rochester Hamfest will be held on June 6th 2020 at the Hilton Exempt Club, 137 South Ave. Hilton, NY 14468 from 7:00AM to 2:00PM. Vendors and flea market sellers may enter starting at 7:00AM, non-selling attendees may enter starting at 8:00AM.

Thursday, March 12, 2020

The Bear Bait Radio Club is having a Amateur Radio Technician Class and VE test session on 4/18 and 4/19 at the Clay Highway Bldg. on RT. 31, Clay NY. It's from 8-5 each day. Register by calling Scott at 315-247-8524.

Thanks to the club for all its efforts here in CNY and in the Adirondacks!

Bring your laptop
with Fldigi installed and follow along with the presentation. See W1HKJ website for information and download links.

Special
Note: Since the US is currently experiencing a proliferation of the COVID-19 virus, please exercise judgment and care. If
you are ill, have been exposed or at risk, please check the CDC
website and New York State DOH for more
information. As a precaution, we will be wiping down everything prior to the meeting.

Please
take advantage of the RaRa sponsored training and operating opportunities.

How to use this site:

There is a lot of information to be found here. In the wide LEFT column you will find news stories in chronological order. In the RIGHT column you find various resource groups and links. Scroll down the right to find info by TOPICS.

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Contribute info to UpstateHam.com?

We are always looking for helpful information for our fellow radio enthusiasts. Do you have an event, interesting story, a favorite web-site or a review of a piece of equipment that you would like to share? (If you need help, we can even help you with final edits to make it look "pretty".)

Please e-mail us at upstateham@gmail.com and we will work to share your information with others. Also, if you have any corrections or comments on what's here, please e-mail us at the e-mail address above.

....and thanks to all the folks who have forwarded on news and information suggestions to us in the past!

about this blog:

Managing repeater and NET frequencies was a tough problem for me. So I started to keep my notes on frequencies, NET's and Club and Hamfest information here. Over time we have added all kinds of information of interest to Upstate NY Radio enthusiasts. I will also try to update old posts with confirmations and updates as I get new information .I have a broad range of interests and love to share much of the cool stuff I stumble across.

We will try to post information for Upstate New York from Albany west to Buffalo and from Binghamton north through the 1000 Islands and Adirondacks. You may notice more news from Central and Northern NY (because that's where I live and recreate.....), but we will try to cover as much of the Upstate New York Region as possible.